Vryheid Child Welfare holds its AGM

VRYHEID Child Welfare held their AGM on Thursday, June 26.
This year’s Annual Report was presented by the Chairperson Mrs Heather Gibbons and she extended her gratitude to all those that have shown their support for this organisation through times of famine and times of plenty.
“I am happy to report that this year we have been abundantly blessed and it has indeed been a time of plenty,” said Mrs Gibbons.
Vryheid Child Welfare thanked all locals and businesses for their generosity in giving their money, time, food, clothing and other items which helped improve the lives of those less fortunate.
A special thank you was given to Rachel Swenson, a young volunteer from Alaska who has been of great assistance to the welfare staff.
In terms of their case work and intake services, the social workers majored mainly in child care related issues in the past year ending March 2014, with cases of emotional, physical and sexual abuse taking up 51% of the 146 intakes they had.
The number of intakes attended to during this period showed a significant decrease, which was attributed mainly to a vacant Social Workers Post for nine months.
Child Welfare has also managed to run 5 Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) namely; Entuthweni Crèche in the Enyathi area, Mooiplaas Crèche, Siyabonga Crèche, Simunye Crèche and Sikhame Crèche.
Poverty Alleviation programmes were initiated to help aid welfare staff with collections.
Projects such as the “Clothe a baby appeal”, the Blanket Drive, the Siyaphambili Sewing Club and many other projects helped clothe and provide food for the less fortunate.
The organisation also received great help from the community with their fundraising projects such as Tekkie Tax, Gold Day and many others.
Vryheid Child Welfare: “The heart of what we do is helping clients to help themselves. The Society is grateful to many funders and individuals, who have provided assistance and their support, have enabled us to increase our capacity to expand and strengthen the services we provide to needy families in Vryheid. Once again, we thank and acknowledge the Management Committee past and present, for their energy and commitment to furthering the work of Child Welfare. We are looking forward to the new challenges of the year 2014/2015.